A blog launched on the 41st anniversary of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), the first pro-life organisation in the world, established on 11 January 1967. SPUC has been a leader in the educational and political battle against abortion, human embryo experimentation and euthanasia since then. I write this blog in my role as SPUC's chief executive, commenting on pro-life news, reflecting on pro-life issues and promoting SPUC's work.

Wednesday, 13 February 2013

MPs are using a campaign to end violence against women as a smokescreen to push forward their agenda for compulsory sex education.

SPUC Safe at School has responding to those MPs, committed to compulsory sex education, who have initiated a debate calling for an end to violence against females through making personal, social and health education (PHSE) a statutory requirement in schools (see below). Sex and relationships education (SRE) is part of PHSE.

Antonia Tully of SPUC Safe at School said:

"This is a cheap tactic aimed at deflecting attention away from their real agenda. Who isn't against ending violence towards women? Those MPs who want compulsory sex education are mixing up two different issues in an attempt to wrap up compulsory sex education with an issue they think will be more acceptable to the public in general, and parents in particular.

"Safe at School has exposed many SRE teaching resources to be graphic lessons about sex which sexualise children. Hundreds of parents wanting to protect their children from such lessons have been supported by Safe at School. Compulsory sex education deprives parents of their legal right to withdraw their children from inappropriate sex lessons. We will make sure that MPs and parents are not taken in by such gimmicks."

Tomorrow in the House of Commons MPs will debate the following motion:

That this House notes the One Billion Rising Campaign, and the call to end violence against women and girls; and calls on the Government to support this by introducing statutory provisions to make personal, social and health education, including a zero tolerance approach to violence and abuse in relationships, a requirement in schools."

John Smeaton

About Me

I became involved in SPUC after graduating, when I established a branch in south London in 1974. I have worked full-time for SPUC for 39 years. I became chief executive of SPUC in the UK in 1996, having been general secretary since 1978. I was elected vice-president of International Right to Life Federation in 2005. At UN conferences in Cairo, Copenhagen, Beijing, Istanbul and Rome, I helped coordinate more than 150 pro-life/pro-family groups resulting in pro-life victories in Cairo, Istanbul and Rome. I was educated at Salesian College, London, before going to Oxford where I graduated in English Language and Literature. I qualified as a teacher, becoming head of English at a secondary school. I am married to Josephine. We have a grown-up family and we live in north London.

Acknowledgement

I am grateful to SPUC's staff, supporters and advisers for their help to me in researching, writing and producing this blog.

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